Shoe tree



July 5, 1949. F. s. HURWITZ 2,475,390

SHOE TREE Filed Aug. 15, 1946 INVENTOR.

lorepce J Hurwfif 6 j I I 47703 y Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE SHOE TREE Florence S. Hurwitz, New York, N. Y.

Application August 15, 1946, Serial No. 690,719

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in shoe trees and hasreference more particularly to a shoe tree for use with open heel shoes.

One of the important objects of the present invention. is to provide ashoe tree that includes a body portion adapted to fit snugly within thetoe portion of a shoe and a spring pressed member for engaging the innersole of the shoe.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree thatcan be readily inserted and removed and when in position within the toeportion of the shoe, will maintain the shoe distended and free ofwrinkles while the shoe is not being worn.

A still further object is to provide a shoe tree that is inexpensive,strong and durable and at all times positive and efficient in carryingout the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, forming part of the specification and in which likereference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a womans open heel shoe showin myimproved shoe tree positioned therein;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one form of the shoetree; taken on the line 22 of Fi 4;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation thereof, with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the shoe tree, and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe tree, showing thevarious parts disconnected.

In the drawings, with reference more particularly to Figures 1 to 5,inclusive, the numeral I designates the body of the shoe tree, the samebeing formed of wood, metal or plastic. This body is in the form of ashell shaped to fit within the toe portion of a shoe, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 1.

The body is formed with a convex outer face 2 and a concave inner face3. It will also be noted that the body is suitable thickness. The bottomof the shell is open. An elongated slot d is formed in the concave innerface 3 and the same extends inwardly from the arcuate rear edge 5 of thebody I. Grooves 6 are formed in the side walls of the slot 4, as clearlyshown in Figures 2 and 5.

Forming a salient part of the present invention is the V-shaped member 1formed of flat spring steel. This member includes the upper arm or 2 leg8 and the lower arm or leg 9, the same being interconnected at theirforward ends by the looped portion It.

The rear end portion H of the upper arm or leg is slightly bent upwardlyand terminates in a curved downwardly extending finger portion ii.

The lower arm or leg 9 is straight throughout its length and terminatesat its rear end in an upwardly curved hook portion l3, that coacts withthe finger portion I2, in a manner to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

The forward portion of the upper arm or leg 8 is disposed within theslot 4 of the body I and for the purpose of securing the V-shaped springmemher to the body, I employ a locking strip 1 4.

This locking strip is wider than the arm or leg 8 and underlies theforward portion of said arm or leg 8, with the side edges of the lockingstrip being receivable in the respective grooves 5. Teeth l5 extendupwardly from the upper face of the locking strip and are adapted to beforced into the bottom face of the arm or leg 8 when the strip I4 ispositioned within the grooves 6. The rear end of the locking strip isbent downwardly to provide a gripping portion I6, whereby the lockingstrip I 4 can be inserted or removed from the grooves 6.

When the parts are assembled in the manner as shown in Figures 2, 3 and4, the shoe tree can be readily and easily inserted in position withinthe toe portion of a shoe by merely grasping the finger portion l2 andthe hook portion I3 and urging them together.

After the shoe tree has been properly inserted within the toe portion ofa shoe, the finger portion l2 and the hook portion l3 are released andthe resiliency of the V-shaped member will automatically force theconvex face 2 of the body upwardly against the inner face of the toeportion of the shoe, while the rear portion of the lower arm or leg 9will engage and bear against the insole of the shoe, near the shankportion thereof.

In this manner the shoe tree will hold the shoe distended and free ofwrinkles while the shoe is not being worn. This type of shoe tree isespecially adapted for use in connection with ladies shoes of the openheel types, although the same can be equally as well used in shoes thatare provided with closed counters at the heel portion.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provideda shoe tree that will at all times be positive and efficient in itsoperation and due .to its simplicity can be readily inserted andremoved.

Further, due to its simplicity, the shoe tree can be manufactured andsold at a very nominal cost and the same will be strong and durable.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A shoe tree comprising a body portion shaped to fit within the toeportion of a shoe, a resilient member attached to said portion forholding the shoe tree in a fixed position within the toe portion of theshoe, said resilient member comprising upper and lower fiat spring armsconnected together at their forward ends, said body portion having aslot formed in the underface of the top portion thereof to receive theforward portion of the upper arm, the sides of the slot being formedwith grooves, a locking strip engaging the under face of the forwardportion of the upper arm and having its side edges receivable in saidgrooves to secure the upper arm in said slot, teeth projecting upwardlyfrom the upper face of the locking strip and adapted to be forced intothe bottom face of the forward portion of the upper arm, said lowerspring arm having a portion thereof engaging and bearing against theinsole of the shoe, the rear end portions of the arms extending beyondthe rear end of the body portion, a finger piece formed on the rear endof the upper arm, an upwardly disposed hook formed on the rear end ofthe lower arm to provide means for disengagement of the lower spring armfrom the insole and to permit the removal of the shoe tree from the toeportion of the shoe.

FLORENCE S. HURWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nurnber Name Date 904,639 Partridge Nov. 24, 1908FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 495,811 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1938

